‘Smokey Joe’s Cafe’ brings early days of rock ‘n’ roll to the Opera House

Greenbrier Valley Theatre comes to the Pocahontas County Opera House on Friday, Sept. 13 to bring to life the early years of rock ‘n’ roll and rhythm and blues with their production of “Smokey Joe’s Cafe.”

In an idealized 1950s setting, the classic themes of love won, lost and imagined blend with hilarious set-pieces and slices of emotion. “Smokey Joe’s Cafe” celebrates the astoundingly prolific and varied body of work created by Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller,who virtually invented rock ‘n roll as much as anyone. The cast transports the audience through the early years of rock n’ roll, with nearly 40 of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll and rhythm & blues songs ever written, including classics such as “On Broadway,” Kansas City,” “Stand By Me,” “Hound Dog” and “Jailhouse Rock.”

Greenbrier Valley Theatre is a live-performance theatre and much more. Greenbrier Valley Theatre is involved in all aspects of the arts and humanities, with people of all ages. From its 1966 productions in a tent alongside the Greenbrier River to Actor’s Equity affiliation in a state-of-the-art facility in downtown Lewisburg, the Greenbrier Valley Theatre has adhered to concepts of its founders: quality live theatre centered around a core of professional actors and directors with opportunities for members of the community to learn stagecraft.

Opera House doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $8. Children 17 and under are admitted free of charge. Tickets are available in advance at pocahontasoperahouse.org and at the Fourth Avenue Gallery in Marlinton.

The Pocahontas County Opera House is located at 818 Third Avenue in Marlinton. Performances at the Opera House are informal, family-friendly and open to all. The entrance and main seating are accessible to persons with disabilities. Persons with disabilities are encouraged to attend; special accommodations may be arranged upon request by calling 304-799-6645.

The Opera House Performance Series is presented with financial assistance through a grant from the WV Division of Culture and History and the National Endowment for the Arts, with approval from the WV Commission on the Arts. Financial support is also provided by Pocahontas County Drama, Fairs and Festivals, Pendleton Community Bank and the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Allegheny Mountain Radio and the Law Office of Roger D. Forman.